Page 59 of Throttle Therapy

And she’d failed.

Failed to protect her.

Lacey had been kidnapped while Jenna was out playing.She’d been beaten and traumatized.Because Jenna had called the school.She might not remember all of the last several hours, but she recalled hearing the teacher that had given her sister, and most of the 8thgrade girls, the creeps, had been part of this.

Lacey’s voice, coming from farther away pulled her back to the present.

“Jenna’s going to blame herself.She finally did something for herself, and this happens.But her being there wouldn’t have stopped it.It would have made it worse.”

“What do you mean, squirt?”Joker’s voice asked.

“They did a lot of talking.I think they were trying to scare me.”She was quiet for a moment, then when Lacey spoke again, her voice was softer.Jenna had to strain to hear.“They told me they’d been hoping she was there too.Since she wasn’t high value like I am.They would have been allowed to do with her as they wanted, as long as they didn’t mark her.”She was quiet for a moment and from the sounds trickling down the hall, Jenna suspected her sister was rinsing her hair.

While they’d been waiting for Joker and her sister to arrive, Bobby Lee had delivered several bags with new bedding and clothes.Jenna had already made up the bed, using it as a reason to stay busy while she waited.

“The one standing over me?”Lacey kept talking.“He said if my sister had been there they would have used her to show me what I had to look forward to, instead of just telling me.They said because I wasn’t broken in, I would draw a higher price, but who would know with Jenna.”The shower shut off.The screech of the shower curtain sliding back came down the hall, then several seconds of silence.

When Jenna could stand it no longer, she stepped around the corner and leaned against the wall.She watched the doorway, waiting for Lacey to emerge.When she did, her hair was wet and plastered against her head.Her wide eyes and the too big clothes made her look much younger than she was.

“Thank you for coming for me.For everything,” Lacey said, holding one hand in Joker’s direction.

“No need for thanks, squirt.We’re family that’s what family does.”He stood and took the hand she held in his direction.“Food or sleep?”

“What?”Lacey frowned.

“You want food or sleep first?”

“I’m not sure eating’s a good idea.But I feel like I could sleep for a month.”

“Adrenaline’s crashing.Let’s get you in bed before it totally bottoms out.”

Lacey’s eyes went even wider as she looked up at Joker.

“You’re not leaving, are you?”

“Not if you don’t want me to.”He didn’t even blink before responding.

“Okay.Then I guess I’ll lay down.”

“Come on, I’ll show you you’re new bedroom.”Jenna stepped forward, not missing the way her sister clung to Joker as if he was her savior.Jenna guessed he was, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.She hated that Lacey needed to be saved.And that it was her fault.

Jenna led everyone into the room next to the bathroom.She couldn’t help but be grateful that Roadkill’s bed in the clubhouse had been a queen, and that he’d had a spare set of sheets.She wasn’t sure where the blankets had come from, but they’d looked and smelled clean, so Jenna had put them on the bed.Jenna would let her pick out bedding later, tomorrow or another day, but at least she had something for tonight.

“This will get us through tonight.We can figure out what other furniture you want in here tomorrow or whenever,” Jenna said going to the bed and pulling back one corner like she’d done when her sister was little.“Come on, hop in.I’ll lay down with you.”

Lacey didn’t say anything as she slid between the sheets and slid across the bed, staying seated as she went and never releasing Joker’s hand.

“Let go, squirt.I’ll stay in the house so you can sleep.”

Lacey shook her head.

“No.Not in the house.Here.”

“Here?”

“I’ll go get the recliner from the living room, so you have somewhere to sit,” Roadkill said.

“No.”Lacey’s words stopped them.